St. Theresa choir sings national anthem at Marlins game

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

Photographer: COURTESY | Aileen Vidal

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir wave after singing the national anthem Aug. 26 at Marlins Park, before a game between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres.

Photographer: COURTESY | Aileen Vidal

Little Flower's pastor, Father Michael Davis, poses with Billy the Marlin after the children's choir from his parish and school performed the national anthem.

MIAMI | What started off as a family
outing to Marlins Park turned into an experience of a lifetime for the 20
students of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir:
They got to sing the national anthem at the start of a game against the San
Diego Padres.

Several times throughout the year, Jorge
Santibáñez, Little Flower's director of religious education, organizes parish
outings to local sporting events.

Previous trips have been to Marlins
baseball games, Heat basketball games and the Orange Bowl Football Classic.
These outings serve as fun community-building opportunities and as modest
fundraisers to support the parish youth ministry.

As planning began for this latest
outing, the Marlins representative pitched the idea of having the children's
choir sing the anthem.

"It was a no-brainer," said
Santibáñez. "I accepted the invitation before even checking the calendars
for dates because I know what an experience like that would mean for the kids
and families. That's exactly what these outings are all about — bringing the
people of our parish together for fun, memorable experiences."

With 150 parishioners in attendance
for the Aug. 26 game, including Little Flower’s pastor, Father Michael Davis,
and priest-in-residence, Father Thomas Honold, the St. Theresa choir took the
field. They sang the national anthem under the direction of choir director Roger
Mason, and accompanied by Sophia Molina on the violin.

Afterward, Billy the Marlin came by
to visit the group, and the Marlins went on to win the game in dramatic
fashion.

Santibáñez, a lifelong Marlins fan,
wasted no time looking ahead. "A Marlins win means we'll have to do it
again soon!"

Members of the Church of the Little Flower/St. Theresa School Honor Choir pose outside Marlins Park with Jorge Santibañez, right rear, parish director of religious education, and Roger Mason, left rear, choir director.